Chapter1. Jolly accident.

Blackness. Silence.

Whatever had brought Papyrus here was nowhere to be seen in the ominous blinding darkness that surrounded him; it would have been easy to think that his eye sockets were deceiving him for his other senses did perceive something at least. A faint sound far away told him that he wasn't alone on this odd place, his entire body felt a little tired but he was determined to find what was happening.

Although he usually greeted or loudly asked for anything when seeing himself in somewhat similar situations this time he decided to approach whoever was there carefully, perhaps the imposing atmosphere of eternal dark influenced his behavior. Still his thoughts raced through a thousand options for what had happened and what was in store, "Maybe I just fell on a really well-crafted trap by a fellow puzzle enthusiast, I should make it my acquaintance to exchange tips" a voice in his head did monologue continuously.

He wandered in the shadows for quite a long time, whatever had made a sound now was quiet as if it never existed, and this crushed Papyrus's hopes; but one cannot bring down the skeleton's positive outlook so easily, he kept saying to himself that this trial must lead him to a great reward of some sort or an exit, even trying victory speeches on his own as a form of breaking the cold and terrifying silence that invaded everything.

-When I find someone, apart from admiring their incredible puzzle skills, I shall ask them to remove those strings off their trap, my bones still hurt from that pull!-

More silence, hopeless obscure surroundings with no place or individual to go, supreme loneliness; those sentiments tried to infiltrate Papyrus's kind and hopeful hearth with no result even after this much time. But his body began to show defeat between the extenuating walk and the marks left by the strings, walking slowly his endless search appeared more impossible to fulfill.

Until a soft change in the shadows that surrounded him began to develop into a visible light and what seemed like the opposite of the current location he was in. More importantly, Papyrus could distinguish an anthropomorphic silhouette on the distance. Using the little energy left in his entire self he ran towards the stranger, his feet almost floated with the velocity hope had given him; as he approached the silhouette it reminded him more and more of his brother, no monster could say if it was a skeleton or not and yet his short bulky figure brought Sans to his mind, then the monster turned around.

His clothes were unnaturally white, a pale skull on top of a red scarf that shared an uncanny resemblance with his own scarf, an open wound bleeding in his rib cage next to strange bumps in his skull and to top it all off he was identical to his brother.

The injured impostor looked at the tall skeleton with a surprise that petrified him on the spot, unable to speak or make any sound for that matter; he gazed at the other monster in a silent conversation.

Finally Papyrus broke said silence as he rushed towards the impostor, blindingly believing he was his brother.

-Sans! What happened to you? What are you doing here? Let me check if I can help you with that horrible wound…-

His hands almost touched Sans's injury when he stopped them and quickly threw himself on a desperate hug, grasping his brother as if he were to disappear in a blink. Although he did not understand why this strange looking Sans was hugging him he did so as well.

-Papyrus, it's been so long…-

-I would not say so myself, but if you feel that way I guess I should comfort you- The confused monster then broke the embrace to look at his supposed brother- but we need to find someone who can help you with that-

Sans let a tired chuckle as he looked at his brother's worried look, there was a sense of despair in his expression that made Papyrus feel sad.

-I'm fine. Really, I've been like this for a long time-

-What? But you were perfectly normal today's morning; and I know some time has passed though I still can't see how you managed to get like this in such amount of time. Do not fear my brother, for I shall avenge you with a serious talk to whoever did this to you!-

-Oh Paps, can you really be this oblivious? Is it that you do not see something else that doesn't fit in the picture?-

-Well you changed clothes-

-I…I can't handle you…he he he…-

Sans then softly laughed, but his laughter soon turned into a cry. The younger skeleton looked at him puzzled about all that was happening, before he could say anything his brother spoke with a false happy tone trying to ease Papyrus's concern over him.

-You…you asked me where are we, right?-He only looked at the short skeleton with a confused yet worried gaze- Well, let's just say that this is a safe place that almost no one can enter…nor leave. Pap…he, tibia honest with you…I'm not truly your brother…-

-Nonsense you're Sans my bro…-

-Yes, my name is Sans but I'm not the Sans you grew up with as you are not…-he sighed and took a deep breath- You are not my…-

Suddenly a striking sound invaded that silent sanctuary as if it's barrier was being torn apart by a colossal and destructive force of nature. Sans swiftly adopted a protective position covering Papyrus from whatever was threatening the dark dimension.

-How the hell did he break the multi-dimensional barrier that protects these screens? Could he control this universe after all?-

-W-What is happening, "Sans"?-

-Papyrus, you need to stay by my side until we find a way out of this, you'll be alright just stick with me, Ok?-

-Okay, but...-

An extremely heavy weight appeared on his ribs and soul, his companion let out an angry shout as he looked down. Around his chest were strings strangling his bones making his already weak body ache with each movement, soon those powerful artifacts dragged him across the floor. He felt dizzy, his eyesight lost focus as his other senses just grasped his injured false brother's cry.

-I'll save you, Papyrus-

-Papyrus?-

The aspiring royal guard was freezing cold and barely conscious, the voice of his brother was calling him and he wanted to answer but he was too weak. Even though he felt his brother was far from him, in a matter of seconds a pair of arms rescued him from the snow blanket that planned to bury him alive, as he asked frenetically.

-Are you ok? Oh goodness what happened? Bro please say something! Tell me you're here with me! No, no, no he's so cold… too cold. Please, Paps wake up…please…-

-S-sans-

The short monster sighed with relief, he proceeded to take his jacket off and put in on his brother's shoulders, even so Papyrus was shivering and his body temperature stayed cold as an ice cube. He tried to speak only to be interrupted by his shivers or his fatigue.

-Shhh. It's fine now, just relax I'll use a shortcut and we'll be on the house in no time-

And so he did. In the blink of an eye they were in front of their house, he did not see how Sans managed to carry him all the way to his room but he found himself there covered by fluffy blankets that will make him warm. Everything had happened so fast, it was so confusing and his whole body ached so he went to sleep.

When he woke up a distant conversation, probably on the living room downstairs, could be heard, if his memory was still intact from whatever was making him ill that should be 's voice and Sans's. From his room their chatter was nothing more than a mumble with certain worried tone. So Papyrus decided to come and greet their visitor.

The single moment he tried to step out of bed a powerful and swift ache invaded his whole body as he unintentionally let out a scream. Soon the sound disappeared, as both monsters rushed upstairs to aid the poor skeleton for he could not comprehend the severity of his situation. When they appeared on the door the injured skeleton happily waved, ignoring the pain such action brought.

-Oh hello Doctor, what has brought you here? Has Sans been a good host? Please excuse me for I cannot…-

-D-Do not worry about it. Sans called me and-

-Sans have you asked the doctor if she would like anything to eat or drink?-

-Paps, now's not the time-

-I might be disqualified for a host right now but a proper monster never forgets his manners. In fact I-He tried to raise his hand as to prove a point but this caused him pain so he whispered-Ouch! Those bones of mine seem too fragile today.-

Alphys sighed, not even such a harsh scenario could stop Papyrus's antics even if they made his condition worse. She took a deep breath and asked the skeleton how he felt.

-Hmm? Apart from that annoying pain I get every time I try to move, I feel quite good, and you doctor?-

-I'm fine thanks. So this pain started when?-

-After I woke up on the snow-

-Huh, I see…-

The scientist turned her face to the ground as her mind pulled the string together of what had happened. Although her face revealed a feeling of uncertainty she made her diagnosis with a strong conviction.

-Papyrus, I believe that your symptoms point out to an excessive amount of work over your body then accompanied by a case of hypothermia with fall from your own altitude-

-What does that mean?-

-That you work too hard and need to rest; I mean your pain is mainly due to the latter but if you lived a little calmer you would have never passed out.-

-So you could say…-

-Sans please, not now…-

-That you've worked yourself "down to the bone"?-

The ill workaholic shouted at his brother with remarkable anger for the use of puns in such a situation, while watched the scene with a nostalgic sense of family and childish innocence that softened her tortured hearth. Her laughter only made Papyrus's anger grow, even if these interactions were not recommended his lively and passionate behavior seemed like a hope for quick recovery.

Long after the doctor was gone, the two brothers engaged in their night customs as usual, but as Sans prepared to read the same bed time story to Papyrus the amazing monster stopped him from doing so himself. In his skull the older brother could easily recognize concern, he did have lots of it as well but tried to act normal.

-What is it, bro?-

-Sans, if…if I told you something weird.. Would you laugh at me?-

-Of course not, I'll never laugh at you bro.-

-Well-his eye sockets travelled the entire room in search of any confidence left in him-When I was "passed out" I saw a strange place and a strange…you.-

Sans didn't say anything, he stood frozen on his seat unable to speak. His brother continued with his story.

-The place was really dark, I felt every minute I ran in that odd place like it was real. Then when I finally saw the other Sans, I was so happy…but he talked a little weird and seemed really sad. Also he wore my scarf, if you ask me that's very rude to my heroic persona yet I didn't say anything about it. He was injured but refused my care. And that's not the weirdest part, after that we heard a loud sound and he became so nervous, talking about barriers and "he". Just when I was about to ask him what was happening a strange force pulls me…And then I woke up…-

His brother stayed silent for a long time, taking all that info and dissecting every piece of it in hopes of finding a meaning and an answer to whether it was a dream or not. He concluded by giving his brother a heartfelt smile as he exited the room.

-That was just a really bad nightmare, don't think too hard about it. Good night bro-

-Good night Sans.-

As darkness covered his room a strong feeling of unease grew inside him. Unlike every night it took him a while to get some rest but he accomplished this and hoped for better dreams.

-You know, brother, your manners could use some work. Poor Alphys looked all thirsty and you did not offer her anything!-

The chubby monster sighed, a day and a half since the accident and his brother couldn't stop talking about how bored he was or how rude Sans was with the doctor, it was a true test of love and patience. But no repetitive chatter could extinguish the concern growing inside him, even at the obvious recovery his brother was experiencing deep down he felt there was something more sinister than an excessive amount of pressure from work.

-Bro, ya gotta chill or you might drive me crazy-

-If by crazy you mean polite, then yes I look forward to drive you insane.-

Before Sans could reply Papyrus acquired a serious aura that sent cold shivers down his brother's spine.

-What is bothering you, Paps?-

-Huh? Oh…-he held a pillow close to his ribcage- It's just that, well, I don´t understand how you can do this every day…-

-Come on! You know there's not a single bone of mine that isn't lazy.-

He sighed tiredly to then adopt a more positive look as he turned around to face Sans.

-I suppose that's true. Even so I'm happy that we could spend some time togheter-

If there still was a thing in the world that could give Sans happiness it was Papyrus's innocent and cheerful nature, the words of sincere fraternity warmed his rock-hard hearth. He lived for moments like this.

Meanwhile Papyrus decided to change his sitting position and from the back of a pillow a dirty sock appeared, much to the skeleton's dismay. However his brother started to laugh.

-SANS! What's this?! Pick it up! Stop laughing! SANS!-

-Alright let me give you a hand- he said as he detached his own hand and gave it to his brother.

-OH FOR ASGORE'S SAKE!-

The dispute continued as the younger one scolded his older brother and the latter nodded while bursting in laughter.

As the days passed (and with Dr. Alphys's approval) Papyrus returned to work as if nothing had ever happened, although his brother kept a close eye on him. And the short skeleton had informed the head of the royal guard of his brother's condition, the herculean fish woman had always been fond of the innocent monster so she took her task with delight.

Now there was no possible way to lose Papyrus to whatever had happened before, or so they thought.

It was midnight, a similar ache pulled his ribs forcing him to stand up and walk. He could not scream, he felt too weak to do so, after all he only wished to follow the strings, those precious blue strings.

They guided him through Snowdin and Waterfall with ease and suddenly stopped before the endless void where the waterfalls disappeared into the nothingness. His sleepy gaze was fixated on that pure blackness, so similar to the one of his dreams, and an impulse within him helped by the soft pull of the strings invited him to jump down.

And so he did.